Labour faces recent calls for to U-turn on winter gasoline cuts after ‘damning’ new letter | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Labour confronted recent calls for to U-turn on winter gasoline fee cuts after criticism from a committee that scrutinises the Government’s welfare insurance policies.

In a letter to Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall on Thursday, the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) condemned the choice to not perform a full impression evaluation into the plan to limit the allowance to solely OAPs on pension credit score.

The committee raised fears over whether or not new pension credit score claims could be processed in time this winter.

It additionally questioned whether or not the controversial measure would make the financial savings the Government has set out.

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride mentioned: “The Government’s own advisory body has stated that winter fuel payment legislation is not fit for purpose.

“It confirms that leaving nearly 10million pensioners out within the chilly to pay for union pay rises could have a big impact on pensioners already in poverty.

“Many will face the dreadful choice between heating and eating caused by this Labour Government.

“Labour have 13 days to reverse this coverage earlier than the Budget. Now is the time for them to comply with their very own recommendation and unpick this merciless coverage.”

The SSAC called for two urgent amendments to the regulations, including giving those on the full rate of pensioner housing benefit the winter fuel payment this year.

The second is protection for older people in receipt of child tax credit who may be at risk of being financially disadvantaged if they move onto pension credit.

Mr Stride said the committee had “delivered a damning verdict” on the policy.

The senior Tory added: “They have condemned the choice to not perform a full impression evaluation and known as for one to be carried out urgently.

“The committee say this should look in particular at the impact on those already in poverty.

“They additionally categorical concern that the additional employees being introduced in to course of pension credit score claims will want months of coaching, which means pensioners might not receives a commission in time for winter.

“All of this confirms what the Conservatives and lots of anxious pensioners have been saying all alongside – these plans are ill-conceived, rushed and utterly unjustified.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves sparked a backlash in July when she introduced plans to axe beforehand common winter gasoline funds for thousands and thousands of OAPs.

The Government has blamed the transfer on a £22billion black gap within the public funds left by the Tories, which the Conservatives have denied.

The change is anticipated to cut back the variety of pensioners in receipt of the as much as £300 allowance by 10million, from 11.4million to 1.5million, and save £1.4billion this yr.

A Government spokesperson mentioned: “We are committed to supporting pensioners – with millions set to see their state pension rise by up to £1,700 this parliament through our commitment to the triple lock.

“Over a million pensioners will still receive the winter fuel payment, and our drive to boost pension credit take up has already seen a 152% increase in claims. Many others will also benefit from the £150 warm home discount to help with energy bills over winter while our extension of the household support fund will help with the cost of food, heating and bills.

“In the longer term we will bring together the administration of pension credit and housing benefit as soon as operationally possible, so that pensioner households receiving housing benefit also receive any pension credit to which they are entitled.”